BlissPoint Analytics

Occupation AtlasMeter Readers, Utilities

O*NET · 43-5041.00

Meter Readers, Utilities

Read meter and record consumption of electricity, gas, water, or steam.

Also called Electric Meter Reader · Field Tech · Field Technician (Field Tech) · Gas Meter Reader · Meter Installer · Meter Reader · Meter Reading Clerk · Meter Record Clerk
22 more

Meter Service Rep · Meter Service Representative (Meter Service Rep) · Meter Service Tech · Meter Service Technician (Meter Service Tech) · Meter Service Worker · Meter Tech · Meter Technician (Meter Tech) · Meterman · Service Worker · Steam Meter Reader · Utilities Tech · Utilities Technician (Utilities Tech) · Utility Locator · Utility Meter Tech · Utility Meter Technician (Utility Meter Tech) · Utility Service Worker · Utility Tech · Utility Technician (Utility Tech) · Utility Worker · Water Inspector · Water Meter Reader · Water Use Inspector

Job Zone 2 — Some Preparation NeededHolland code CRI35 skills on file

Compare with another occupationCompare with Light Truck Drivers

Job Zone

  1. 1
  2. 2
  3. 3
  4. 4
  5. 5

Zone 2: Some Preparation Needed

Some preparation. Usually a high school diploma, some previous work-related skill or experience, and a few months to a year of training with experienced workers.

Job Zone is O*NET's rating of how much education, experience and training an occupation typically needs — a property of the work, not of anyone doing it.

Occupational interest profile

CRIConventional · Realistic · Investigative — the three strongest interests, in order

  • C Conventional6.58
  • R Realistic4.91
  • I Investigative2.53
  • S Social2.15
  • E Enterprising1.28
  • A Artistic1.00

RIASEC (Holland) interests on O*NET's 0–7 scale: what the work draws on, not what any individual prefers. Hover a row for what each dimension means.

Education and experience

The education level respondents say the job requires, and the most common answer for experience and training.

  • High School Diploma or the equivalent94%
  • Post-Secondary Certificate2%
  • Some College Courses2%
  • Associate's Degree or other 2-year degree2%
Related work experience
None (82%)
On-site or in-plant training
None (32%)
On-the-job training
Anything beyond short demonstration, up to and including 1 month (46%)

Typically associated skills

All 35 O*NET skills, most important first. Importance (1–5) says how much a skill matters here; level (0–7) says how much of it the work calls for, with O*NET's example of a nearby level. Neither is a proficiency rating of a person.

  • Speakingbasic3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Greet tourists and explain tourist attractions
  • Critical Thinkingbasic3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Determine whether a subordinate has a good excuse for being late
  • Operations Monitoring3.02.3Level 2 looks like: Monitor completion times while running a computer program
  • Active Listeningbasic2.93.0Level 2 looks like: Take a customer's order
  • Reading Comprehensionbasic2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Read step-by-step instructions for completing a form
  • Time Management2.92.5Level 2 looks like: Keep a monthly calendar of appointments
  • Operation and Control2.92.3Level 2 looks like: Navigate the settings on an office printer to print on both sides of the paper
  • Service Orientation2.82.5Level 2 looks like: Ask customers if they would like a cup of coffee
  • Monitoringbasic2.62.8Level 2 looks like: Proofread and correct a letter
  • Complex Problem Solving2.62.4Level 2 looks like: Lay out tools to complete a job
  • Judgment and Decision Making2.52.4Level 2 looks like: Decide how scheduling a break will affect work flow
  • Active Learningbasic2.52.1Level 2 looks like: Think about the implications of a news article for job opportunities
Show the other 23
  • Writingbasic2.42.6Level 2 looks like: Write down a guest's order at a restaurant
  • Coordination2.42.1Level 2 looks like: Schedule appointments for a medical clinic
  • Social Perceptiveness2.42.0Level 2 looks like: Notice that customers are angry because they have been waiting too long
  • Troubleshooting2.41.9Level 2 looks like: Identify the source of a leak by looking under a machine
  • Equipment Maintenance2.31.6Level 2 looks like: Add oil to an engine as indicated by a warning light
  • Instructing2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Instruct a new employee in the use of a timekeeping system
  • Learning Strategiesbasic2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Learn a different method of completing a task from a coworker
  • Mathematicsbasic2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Count the amount of change to be given to a customer
  • Quality Control Analysis2.01.9Level 2 looks like: Inspect a draft email for errors (e.g., grammar, punctuation)
  • Persuasion2.01.6Level 2 looks like: Solicit donations for a charity
  • Repairing2.01.3Level 2 looks like: Tighten a screw to get a door to close properly
  • Management of Personnel Resources1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Encourage a coworker who is having difficulty finishing a project
  • Systems Analysis1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Determine how loss of a team member will affect the completion of a job
  • Systems Evaluation1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Determine why estimates for the time to complete a task are overly optimistic
  • Negotiation1.81.3Level 2 looks like: Present justification to a manager for altering a work schedule
  • Installation1.81.1Level 2 looks like: Install a new air filter in an air conditioner
  • Equipment Selection1.50.6
  • Management of Material Resources1.50.5
  • Management of Financial Resources1.40.5
  • Programming1.40.4
  • Operations Analysis1.3—
  • Technology Design1.3—
  • Sciencebasic1.1—

Tasks

12 core · 3 supplemental

What people in this occupation do, as O*NET records it, core tasks first by importance (1–5).

  1. Read electric, gas, water, or steam consumption meters and enter data in route books or hand-held computers.4.5
  2. Walk or drive vehicles along established routes to take readings of meter dials.4.4
  3. Upload into office computers all information collected on hand-held computers during meter rounds, or return route books or hand-held computers to business offices so that data can be compiled.4.4
  4. Verify readings in cases where consumption appears to be abnormal, and record possible reasons for fluctuations.4.3
  5. Inspect meters for unauthorized connections, defects, and damage, such as broken seals.4.3
  6. Install new or replace broken meters.4.3
  7. Perform preventative maintenance or minor repairs on meters.4.2
  8. Answer customers' questions about services and charges, or direct them to customer service centers.4.1
  9. Report to service departments any problems, such as meter irregularities, damaged equipment, or impediments to meter access, including dogs.4.0
  10. Leave messages to arrange different times to read meters in cases in which meters are not accessible.3.7
  11. Report lost or broken keys.3.4
  12. Dig dirt away from meters to take readings.3.4
Show the other 3
  1. Update client address and meter location information.3.8
  2. Connect and disconnect utility services at specific locations.3.8
  3. Collect past-due bills.3.7

Knowledge

Bodies of knowledge the work draws on.

  • Customer and Personal Service3.94.1Level 4 looks like: Be responsible for 10 children at daycare
  • Computers and Electronics3.63.2Level 4 looks like: Use a computer to format a document
  • Public Safety and Security3.53.5Level 4 looks like: Inspect a building site for safety violations
  • Mathematics3.02.9
  • Administration and Management2.82.8
  • Engineering and Technology2.72.4Level 1 looks like: Install a door lock
  • Mechanical2.62.4Level 1 looks like: Replace the filters in a furnace
  • Physics2.61.8Level 1 looks like: Use a crowbar to pry open a box
Show all 33
  • English Language2.52.4Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Law and Government2.51.9Level 1 looks like: Describe the length of a U.S. presidential term
  • Chemistry2.42.4Level 1 looks like: Use a common household bug spray
  • Geography2.41.6Level 1 looks like: Know the capital of the United States
  • Telecommunications2.41.3Level 1 looks like: Send an email
  • Transportation2.41.6Level 1 looks like: Ride a train to work
  • Administrative2.32.2Level 1 looks like: Direct phone calls to the appropriate staff member
  • Building and Construction2.32.6
  • Education and Training2.31.9Level 1 looks like: Show someone how to bowl
  • Production and Processing2.21.7Level 1 looks like: Put a computer back into its packing materials
  • Economics and Accounting2.11.2Level 1 looks like: Answer billing questions from credit card customers
  • Communications and Media2.01.9Level 1 looks like: Write a thank you note
  • Personnel and Human Resources2.01.5Level 1 looks like: Fill out a medical claim form
  • Psychology1.71.5Level 1 looks like: Monitor several children on a playground
  • Design1.51.1Level 1 looks like: Draw a straight line 4 3/16 inches long
  • Biology1.40.6Level 1 looks like: Feed domestic animals
  • Food Production1.4—
  • History and Archeology1.40.4Level 1 looks like: Take a class in US history
  • Foreign Language1.30.3Level 1 looks like: Say "please" and "thank you" in a foreign language
  • Sociology and Anthropology1.30.5Level 1 looks like: Identify two cultures in a story as being different
  • Philosophy and Theology1.2—
  • Sales and Marketing1.1—
  • Fine Arts1.0—
  • Medicine and Dentistry1.0—
  • Therapy and Counseling1.0—

Abilities

Enduring capacities the work calls for.

  • Near Vision4.03.4Level 2 looks like: Read indicators on the dashboard of a car
  • Far Vision3.13.0Level 2 looks like: Read a roadside billboard
  • Problem Sensitivity3.12.9Level 2 looks like: Recognize that an unplugged lamp won't work
  • Deductive Reasoning3.02.9Level 2 looks like: Know that a stalled car can coast downhill
  • Information Ordering3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Follow the correct steps to make change
  • Oral Comprehension3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Understand a television commercial
  • Oral Expression3.03.1Level 4 looks like: Give instructions to a lost motorist
  • Perceptual Speed3.03.0Level 2 looks like: Sort mail according to ZIP codes with no time pressure
Show all 52
  • Speech Clarity3.02.9
  • Speech Recognition3.02.8Level 2 looks like: Recognize the voice of a coworker
  • Arm-Hand Steadiness2.92.3Level 2 looks like: Light a candle
  • Control Precision2.92.8Level 2 looks like: Adjust a room light with a dimmer switch
  • Manual Dexterity2.92.4Level 1 looks like: Screw a light bulb into a light socket
  • Multilimb Coordination2.92.9Level 2 looks like: Row a boat
  • Trunk Strength2.93.0Level 2 looks like: Sit up in an office chair
  • Written Comprehension2.93.0Level 2 looks like: Understand signs on the highway
  • Extent Flexibility2.82.8Level 2 looks like: Reach to adjust the radio in a car
  • Finger Dexterity2.82.3Level 2 looks like: Put coins in a parking meter
  • Inductive Reasoning2.83.0Level 2 looks like: Decide what to wear based on the weather report
  • Selective Attention2.82.5Level 2 looks like: Answer a business call with coworkers talking nearby
  • Category Flexibility2.62.6Level 3 looks like: Classify flowers according to size, color, and smell
  • Stamina2.62.3Level 1 looks like: Walk 1/4 mile
  • Written Expression2.62.1Level 1 looks like: Write a note to remind someone to take food out of the freezer
  • Visual Color Discrimination2.52.4Level 1 looks like: Separate laundry into colors and whites
  • Depth Perception2.42.0Level 2 looks like: Merge a car into traffic on a city street
  • Gross Body Coordination2.41.8Level 2 looks like: Get in and out of a truck
  • Response Orientation2.42.6Level 2 looks like: When a doorbell and phone ring at the same time, quickly select which to answer first
  • Spatial Orientation2.42.0Level 2 looks like: Use the floor plan to locate a store in a mall
  • Flexibility of Closure2.32.3Level 2 looks like: Detect that your phone is ringing while at a concert
  • Mathematical Reasoning2.32.0Level 1 looks like: Determine how much 20 oranges will cost when they are priced at 5 for 4 dollars
  • Number Facility2.32.0Level 1 looks like: Add 2 and 7
  • Reaction Time2.32.3Level 2 looks like: Start to slow down the car when a traffic light turns yellow
  • Static Strength2.32.1Level 1 looks like: Push an empty shopping cart
  • Time Sharing2.32.1Level 2 looks like: Listen to music while entering numbers into a spreadsheet
  • Rate Control2.12.1Level 1 looks like: Ride a bicycle alongside a jogger
  • Visualization2.12.1Level 2 looks like: Imagine how to place paper in a printer so that the letterhead comes out on top
  • Auditory Attention2.01.8Level 2 looks like: Listen to a lecture while people nearby are talking
  • Fluency of Ideas2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Name four different uses for a screwdriver
  • Glare Sensitivity2.01.9Level 2 looks like: Drive on a familiar road on a cloudy day
  • Gross Body Equilibrium2.01.6Level 2 looks like: Stand on a ladder
  • Memorization2.01.9Level 1 looks like: Remember the number on your bus to be sure you get back on the right one
  • Originality2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Use a credit card to open a locked door
  • Peripheral Vision2.02.0Level 2 looks like: Keep in step while marching in a band
  • Speed of Closure2.02.0Level 3 looks like: Recognize a song after hearing only the first few notes
  • Dynamic Strength1.91.4Level 2 looks like: Use pruning shears to trim a bush
  • Hearing Sensitivity1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Notice a doorbell ringing
  • Wrist-Finger Speed1.91.6Level 2 looks like: Use a screwdriver to twist in a screw
  • Explosive Strength1.80.8
  • Sound Localization1.81.3Level 2 looks like: Listen to a sound system to determine which speaker is working
  • Speed of Limb Movement1.81.3Level 2 looks like: Saw through a thin piece of wood
  • Night Vision1.61.1Level 2 looks like: Read street signs at dusk (just after sunset)
  • Dynamic Flexibility1.1—

Work activities

Kinds of activity the work is made of.

  • Getting Information4.33.9Level 4 looks like: Review a budget
  • Performing General Physical Activities3.84.2Level 4 looks like: Paint the outside of a house
  • Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events3.73.5Level 4 looks like: Judge the suitability of food products for an event
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates3.62.7
  • Monitoring Processes, Materials, or Surroundings3.63.3Level 4 looks like: Test electrical circuits
  • Operating Vehicles, Mechanized Devices, or Equipment3.62.6
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public3.63.2Level 4 looks like: Sell shoes in a crowded shoe store
  • Inspecting Equipment, Structures, or Materials3.53.0Level 4 looks like: Inspect equipment in a chemical processing plant
Show all 41
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems3.53.2Level 4 looks like: Select the location for a major retail store
  • Documenting/Recording Information3.42.0Level 1 looks like: Record the weight of a patient during a routine health exam
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work3.42.9
  • Communicating with People Outside the Organization3.22.6
  • Processing Information3.23.0Level 4 looks like: Calculate the adjustments for insurance claims
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge3.22.9
  • Evaluating Information to Determine Compliance with Standards3.12.3Level 1 looks like: Review forms for completeness
  • Thinking Creatively3.12.2Level 1 looks like: Change the spacing on a printed report
  • Training and Teaching Others3.12.3Level 1 looks like: Give coworkers brief instructions on a simple procedural change
  • Handling and Moving Objects3.03.7Level 4 looks like: Arrange books in a library
  • Judging the Qualities of Objects, Services, or People3.02.9
  • Analyzing Data or Information2.92.4Level 1 looks like: Skim a short article to gather the main point
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others2.81.9Level 1 looks like: Interpret a blood pressure reading
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships2.73.2Level 4 looks like: Maintain good working relationships with almost all coworkers and clients
  • Scheduling Work and Activities2.71.6Level 1 looks like: Make appointments for patients using a predetermined schedule
  • Working with Computers2.61.9Level 1 looks like: Enter employee information into a database
  • Coaching and Developing Others2.52.0Level 1 looks like: Show a coworker how to operate a piece of equipment
  • Guiding, Directing, and Motivating Subordinates2.51.6Level 1 looks like: Work occasionally as a backup supervisor
  • Assisting and Caring for Others2.41.9Level 1 looks like: Help a coworker complete an assignment
  • Estimating the Quantifiable Characteristics of Products, Events, or Information2.41.3Level 1 looks like: Estimate the size of household furniture to be shipped
  • Developing Objectives and Strategies2.31.8Level 1 looks like: Plan the holiday schedule for an airline workforce
  • Controlling Machines and Processes2.22.5Level 1 looks like: Operate a cash register
  • Coordinating the Work and Activities of Others2.22.0Level 1 looks like: Exchange information during a shift change
  • Resolving Conflicts and Negotiating with Others2.21.8Level 1 looks like: Apologize to a customer who complains about waiting too long
  • Monitoring and Controlling Resources2.11.0Level 1 looks like: Work as a server responsible for keeping track of utensils
  • Providing Consultation and Advice to Others2.10.9Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that requires little advising of others
  • Performing Administrative Activities2.01.4Level 1 looks like: Complete routine paperwork
  • Repairing and Maintaining Mechanical Equipment2.01.4Level 1 looks like: Make simple, external adjustments to a door hinge with ordinary hand tools
  • Developing and Building Teams1.91.0Level 1 looks like: Encourage two coworkers to stick with a tough assignment
  • Repairing and Maintaining Electronic Equipment1.91.2Level 1 looks like: Use display settings to adjust a television picture
  • Staffing Organizational Units1.90.7Level 1 looks like: Work in a position that has minimal staffing requirements
  • Drafting, Laying Out, and Specifying Technical Devices, Parts, and Equipment1.6—
  • Selling or Influencing Others1.3—

Work context

The conditions most characteristic of the work, on O*NET's 1–5 context scale.

  • In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment5.0
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams4.8
  • Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions4.7
  • Telephone Conversations4.2
  • Freedom to Make Decisions4.1
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate4.1
  • Physical Proximity3.9
  • Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results3.8
  • Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets3.8
  • Contact With Others3.7

Technology

13 tools

Software used in this work. In demand: among the tools job postings for this occupation name most. Hot: often named in job postings across the economy.

In demand (1)

  • Microsoft Office softwarehot

Hot (6; 1 more marked hot above)

  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Windows
  • Microsoft Word
Other tools (6)
  • Billing software
  • Geographic information system GIS systems
  • Graphing software
  • Mapping software
  • Meter reading software
  • Supervisory control and data acquisition SCADA software

Related occupations

O*NET's own list of the occupations most related to this one, closest first.

  1. Control and Valve Installers and Repairers, Except Mechanical Door
  2. Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Powerhouse, Substation, and Relay
  3. Power Distributors and Dispatchers
  4. Electrical and Electronics Repairers, Commercial and Industrial Equipment
  5. Electrical and Electronics Installers and Repairers, Transportation Equipment
  6. Inspectors, Testers, Sorters, Samplers, and Weighers
  7. Stationary Engineers and Boiler Operators
  8. Septic Tank Servicers and Sewer Pipe Cleaners
  9. Power Plant Operators
  10. Calibration Technologists and Technicians

ESCO equivalents

From the official ESCO–O*NET crosswalk, strongest match first. A broader occupation takes in this one; a narrower one is a part of it.

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This page includes information from the O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. ESCO occupations and skills are from the European Commission's ESCO classification, and the occupation crosswalk is the official ESCO–O*NET mapping by the ESCO Secretariat with USDOL/ETA. This service uses the ESCO classification of the European Commission. BlissPoint Analytics has modified all or some of this information: skill, task and descriptor ratings are rounded to one decimal, and ESCO occupations show Job Zone and interests copied from a crosswalked O*NET occupation. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.